We are pleased to announce that we are beginning preparations for the 2019 GAPP exchange trip. The GAPP exchange is a national program that supports a mutual educational experience between German and U.S. students. The program has existed for decades and has brought long lasting professional relationships and friendships between teachers, students, and community members. Typically, each school visits the country for three weeks. During the exchange, visiting students will observe classes, embark on field trips, visit major landmarks and cities, and embrace a new culture and language.The current estimated cost is $2500.00, which would include round trip flight, hotel/hostels and meal stipends for travel week, health insurance, train and bus tickets). This price is variable until we have a sense of how many people will be going on the exchange. Members of the classes of 2020 and 2021 are eligible to apply.We plan on traveling to Germany somewhere between June 15th – July 5th, 2019. Currently, dates are not set due to flight availability, final confirmation with Gymnasium Uslar, and the AACPS last school day. Please stay tuned for more information and application materials in the coming days.

Our set and costume teams are looking for materials for Ariel's ocean! If you have any of the following lying around, please bring them to Ms. Lorenz's room! (124) Please note that these items will NOT be returned to you. If you would prefer to loan an item, please email Ms. Lorenz (elorenz@aacps.org) and Mr. Korbelak (bkorbelak@aacps.org) to let us know. THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

First, a big thank you to all who came out last week and auditioned for the improv troupe. We very much enjoyed seeing the array of talent and clever wit on display by all. Regardless of whether or not you are in the improv troupe, remember that we are having an improv block during panther hour once panther hour begins next week, happening on Fridays in Portable 2. That improv block is open to ALL (Even if you did not audition) and will focus on large group games that bring the energy and the humor. If you attend the panther hour rehearsal you are invited to attend and participate in the large group games when we perform them at our shows.

Second, if you are listed below then congratulations, you are on the improv troupe! The troupe will meet weekly on Wednesdays from 3:30 to 5:00, beginning the week of October 1st. Please find Mr. Korbelak tomorrow in school to officially accept or decline your spot on the troupe (2nd Floor, Blue Corner is the math office).

Also MARK YOUR CALENDARS! We will have three shows this year in our auditorium and here is when they will be happening (All Fridays from 7:00 - 8:30):

​October 19th

December 7th

February 15th

Stay tuned to hear about a fourth show happening in Late April/ Early May, hopefully taking place at the Metropolitan in downtown Annapolis similar to last school year.

And without further ado, here is our 2018-2019 Improv Troupe, under the direction of Mr. Korbelak and our student improv troupe manager Katie FitzPatrick:

We directors have had a very busy summer but are currently working hard to prepare for the upcoming year and all of the wonderful productions and plans that we have in store!

As many of you already know, Mr. Parr has accepted a job outside of teaching and will no longer be working with us. We will miss him and wish him the best of luck on his new journey. He has been an integral part of this company over the past 5 years and we are certainly sad to see him leave.

Mr. Murphy has accepted a new leadership role within Annapolis High School. He’ll now be working as the Student Testing Coordinator. As a result, he feels that it would be best if he stepped down from directing so that he can focus his time and energy on his new role. We are very excited for him and think he will be a perfect fit in his new position. He’ll still be around the hallways to pester and harass the other directors, so that, at least, is comforting.

Ms. Lorenz spent a big part of her summer on a cross-country road trip. She has now officially driven coast to coast, and has the pictures of her feet in the water on each side of our country to prove it!

Mr. Korbelak spent much of his time at Camp Letts running the day camp and various other responsibilities. He is also taking on a new role at Annapolis High School as the new math department chair. He has had a great summer but he’s ready to get back to a daily work environment that doesn’t include swarms of mosquitoes.

Ms. Hackett could be found around the halls of Annapolis for most of the summer as she helped to run the Summer Bridge Program as the IB Coordinator. She also spent some time writing curriculum for the county. When she wasn’t knee deep in the world of education, she spent her time outdoors walking and hiking with her dog and taking all of the naps she missed during the school year.

Ms. Breidenbaugh traveled to two different music festivals this summer where she worked as an intern and performer. She is also currently working with Annapolis High School’s marching band camp. We hope she wears a lot of sunscreen because it is hot out there!

We hope your summers have all been relaxing, restful, and renewing. This year will see many changes at Annapolis, not just in the drama company, and we are excited to see the growth and continued Panther spirit over this coming school year. Take some time between now and the start of the year to think about what each of you would like to accomplish within the drama company. Maybe it’s trying out a new task or role or preparing for an audition in a different way. Whatever it is, come prepared and excited to learn and grow and most importantly, to be dramatic!

Thank you for your patience and dedication to the Drama Company as we navigate new waters. The cast lists for both shows are attached, and we have faith that we will have two AMAZING, HIGH QUALITY shows.

Just a reminder, everyone is in the ensemble for both shows.

Please note: The acro and tap teams will be utilized from the original casting of NEW HOLLYWOOD CITY. There will also be some new, small ensembles created for ANYTHING GOES and DROWSY CHAPERONE. This will happen during rehearsal.

If you have not joined the Google Classroom, please to do so to accept your role by 9:30 AM tomorrow.Code: f5zktf